Footrest for embalming tables



Oct. 20, 1942. w. CAWOOD FOOT masqr FOR EMBKLMING TABLES 3 Sheats-Shet 1Filed April 19, 1941 Inventor Ma 24/: lzaanmr kn ma Attorney Oct. 20,1942. .w. H. cAwooD 2,299,127

FOOT REST FOR EMBALMING TABLES Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z m9 jay? Inventor M4414, 6904mkn/ma Attorney Oct. 20, 1942. i w. H cAwooD2,299,127

I FOOT REST FOR EMBALMING TABLES Filed A ril, 19, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet sInventor A Home Patented Oct. 20, 1942 FOOTBEST FOR'EBIBAIJIMING"TABLESWilliam Hobart Cawood, Middlesboro, Ky., as-

signor to Mary V. Cawood, Middlesboro, Ky.

Application April 19, 1941, 'SerialNo. 389,454

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inembalming tables and has for its primary object to provide a footrestattachment adapted for placing in position at one end of the embalmingtable for holding the feet of a corpse in a desired position duringembalm- An important object of the present invention is to provide adevice of this character embodying means for adjusting the same on thetable into a desired position for engaging the feet of the corpse andalso embodying means for quickly detaching the footrest from the tableor assembling the same in position thereon.

An additional object is to provide a collapsible footrest of thischaracter, that may be stored in a compact manner when not in use.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, eflicient and reliable in performance and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is arear elevational view showing the footrest in position on an embalmingtable,

Figure 2 is a front elevational View thereof removed from the table,

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of one section of the footrestremoved from the table,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially ona line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of th adjustable blocks forengaging the side of the foot,

Figure 6 is a similar view of the transversely extending locking bar forthe legs of the footrest,

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view illustrating a modified form oftable engaging block,

Figure 8 is a top plan view illustrating the use of wedges for raisingthe lower edge of the footrest above the surface of the table to preventinterference with drainage of the table,

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken substantially on a line 99 of Figure8, and

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view showing the footrest supportingblocks adapted for en gaging the splash apron at the foot of the table.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and with particular reference toFigures 1 to 6, in-

clusive, of the drawings, the numeral 5 designates an embalming tablehaving the upstandingrim 6 extending around the, marginal edges thereof.The foot board designated generally at l is preferably constructed oflightweight wood, but may of course, be formed of any suitable material,and is composed of a pair of sections 8 and 9 which extend transverselyacross the table in an upright position, the adjacent vertical edges ofthe sections-being connected by hinges l0, preferably secured to thefront faces of the sections. To the rear faces of the sections 8 and 9are attached one or moresliding bolts ll attached to one of the sectionsadapted for engaging keepers l2 secured to the other of the sections,the bolts and keepers being of conventional construction, and areadapted to secure the sections against swinging movement relativ to eachother.

Extending downwardly from the outer edges of the sections 8 and 9 arelegs 13 having an opening l4 therein adapted for receiving atransversely extending cross bar l5 disposed beneath the table forsecuring the footrest in position there- Each of the sections 8 and 9 ofthe footrest, at their lower edges, are formed with short legs l6adapted to support the bottom edge of the footrest in an elevatedposition above the surface of the table.

Secured to the rear surface of the sections 8 and 9 are a plurality ofblocks I! having their lower edges cut as shown at l8 for conformablyfitting over the rim 6 of the table, the blocks supporting the footrestagainst longitudinal tilting movement on the table.

Each of the sections 8 and 9 of the footrest are formed with a pluralityof openings I9 arranged in vertically spaced pairs, the pairs ofopenings being arranged in predetermined relation as shown to advantagein Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The openings are adapted to receivepins 20 projecting from one face of blocks 2| for supporting the blockson the front face of the footrest.

When the corpse is in position on the table the bottoms of the feet areadapted to rest against the front surface of the footrest, and theblocks 2| are properly positioned in the openings l9 to engage the sidesof the feet to maintain the feet in a natural position, the arrangementof the pairs of openings in the footrest permitting the adjustment ofthe blocks to accommodate feet of various sizes.

In Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, I have illustrated a footrest providedwith a modified form of supporting block adapted for engagement with asplash apron indicated at 22 and provided on certain types of embalmingtables at the foot end thereof. The footrest supporting block in thisform of the invention is designated at 23 and projects from the rearsurface of the footrest and is provided at its rear edge at anintermediate portion with a notch 24 adapted to conformably fit over thesplash shield 22.

In order to support the footrest against tilting movement, when the sameis adjusted longitudinally on the table, I provide a plurality of wedgemembers 25 adapted for positioning under the short legs it of thefootrest, the wedges also being positioned under the supporting blocksI1, or 23, as the case may be.

Also in Figures 8, 9 and the footrest 26 may be constructed of a singletransversely extending board in place of the hingedly connectedsections.

It is believed the details of construction, advantages and manner of useof the device will be readily understood from the foregoing withoutfurther detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is:

1. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a flat member positionedtransversely of the table and means extending transversely below thetable and connected to each end of said member for securing the latterin an upright position on the table.

2. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a flat member positionedtransversely of the table, legs extending downwardly from the edgeportion of said member and a locking bar extending transversely beneaththe table and engaging said legs for securing the member in an uprightposition on the table.

3. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a fiat member positionedtransversely of the table, means for securing the member to the table inan upright position transversely of the upper surface of the table toform an abutment for the bottom of the feet of a body on the table andmeans carried by one face of the member for engaging the sides of thefeet.

4. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a flat member positionedtransversely of the table, means for securing the member to the table inan upright position transversely of the upper surface of the table toform an abutment for the bottom of the feet of a body on the table andfeet supporting members adjustably mounted on one face of the fiatmember.

5. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a flat member positionedtransversely of the table, means for securing th member to the table inan upright position transversely of the upper surface of the table toform an abutment for the bottom of the feet of a body on the table andmembers projecting outwardly from the surface of the flat member forengaging and supporting the sides of the feet.

6. A footrest for embalming tables comprising a flat member positionedtransversely of the table, means for securing the member to the table inan upright position transversely of the upper surface of the table toform an abutment for the bottom of the feet of a body on the table, saidflat member having spaced openings therein and members selectivelyinsertable in said openings and projecting outwardly from one surface ofthe flat member for engaging and supporting the sides of the feet.

' WILLIAM HOBART CAWOOD.

